Gift Card
Shipping Location
Enter new zip code to refresh estimated delivery time.
Update
Unrecognized Zip Code
Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Lens
Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Lens
B&H # SO5518 MFR # SEL55F18Z
In Stock
Order
in the next
0:00:00
to ship
today
Product Highlights
- E-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/22
- Three Aspherical Elements
- Zeiss T* Anti-Reflective Coating
- Linear Autofocus Motor; Internal Focus
- Minimum Focus Distance: 1.6'
- Dust and Moisture-Resistant Construction
- Nine-Blade Circular Diaphragm
Price: $998.00
Instant Savings: $100.00
Offer ends: Jun 22 '19 at 11:59 pm ET
$0 VA Sales Tax Collected on This Item
Send with SmartGift
Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Overview
- 1Description
A perfect pairing for full-frame Sony E-mount cameras, the Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Lens offers excellent resolution and a fast f/1.8 aperture for photographers looking for a high-performing normal-length prime. By using three aspherical elements and Zeiss's legendary T* anti-reflective coating, this lens exhibits an absolute minimum of aberrations and flare. It also has a linear autofocus motor and internal focus design for fast, responsive AF and achieving a minimum focus distance of 1.6'. Additionally, the lens is dust and moisture resistant and uses a nine-blade circular diaphragm for smooth, rounded bokeh.
- Based on the Zeiss Sonnar optical concept, this lens uses a design with seven elements in five groups that helps achieve the large maximum aperture of f/1.8 while simultaneously reducing flare and improving contrast.
- A normal-length prime designed for full-frame E-mount cameras, this 55mm lens will provide a excellent perspective for street photography, portraits, and general-purpose shooting. It can also be used on APS-C format cameras where it will provide an equivalent focal length of 82.5mm.
- The f/1.8 maximum aperture allows users to create images with shallow depth of field and work in low-light conditions with relative ease.
- Zeiss T* anti-reflective coatings have been applied to each lens surface to help minimize reflections in order to provide greater image clarity, contrast, and color fidelity.
- Three aspherical elements, including two double-sided, are incorporated in the lens design to reduce astigmatism, field curvature, coma, and other monochromatic aberrations.
- A linear autofocus motor and internal focus design provide quick and precise autofocus performance and enables accurate and silent focusing while recording videos.
- Dust- and moisture-sealed design better permits working in inclement conditions and rubberized control rings benefit handling in colder temperatures.
- Rounded nine-blade diaphragm contributes to a pleasing bokeh quality when employing selective focus techniques.
UPC: 027242868175
In the Box
Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Lens
Table of Contents
- 1Description
Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Specs
| Focal Length | 55mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/1.8 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/22 |
| Lens Mount | Sony E |
| Format Compatibility | Full-Frame |
| Angle of View | 43° |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.141x |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 1.64' / 50 cm |
| Optical Design | 7 Elements in 5 Groups |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9, Rounded |
| Focus Type | Autofocus |
| Image Stabilization | None |
| Filter Size | 49 mm (Front) |
| Dimensions (ø x L) | 2.54 x 2.78" / 64.52 x 70.61 mm |
| Weight | 9.9 oz / 281 g |
| Packaging Info | |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 1.2 lb |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) | 8.0 x 4.4 x 4.3" |
Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Reviews
Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Lens is rated
out of
5 by
255.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
OL HASBEEN from
A GREAT PIECE OF GLASS
I'm a retired, or tired, professional photographer. In my working life, before the L lenses I saw only 3 super sharp lenses, one in a thousand kind of lenses; one was a screw-in 50mm f 1.8 Super Takumar (?), a Canon 50mm f 1.4 and a Rolli Planar f2.8. Every other lens I've owned for 4x5, 21/4x31/4 35mm were just lenses; good but not great. Now comes the 55mm Sonnar T FE f1.8! This thing is scary sharp! It is probably the sharpest 35mm normal lens I've every shot. Period! Using this lens on an alpha 7r is amazing. If all of them are like mine, I'd say, get it-you'll love it! It sure would be nice if it was possible to make zoom lens that approached this sharpness.
Date published: 2014-05-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Anonymous from
Sharpest lens, super fast, and a joy to shoot with
I recently switched over to a Sony A7ii with the desire to have a smaller camera that I could take with me everywhere and pair it with a nifty fifty. I tried this lens out along with the Zeiss Loxia 50mm Planar. Both of them are knife sharp and produce gorgeous images, but considering that they're the same size and this one has a couple more elements plus an amazingly fast AF, the Sony Sonnar just pulled ahead. It produces STUNNING images, it's built like a tank, and feels amazing. I can't say how much I love this lens. I only wish they made a wide-angle version of this (21-25mm) for tight space situations or landscape photos.
Date published: 2016-10-11
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Alhatlani. A from
You will not regret buying this!
I didn't buy this lens from B&H since I'm not in the USA. I have been in confusion, a 50 ish mm lens with 1.8 aperture for just under $1000, the previous price, then I was like WHAAAAT???. I kind of had to buy it since the EF lenses line wasn't that much. This is one of the best lenses I've ever had. I mainly shoot videos with a7s ii, and AF in the video this lens provides is something cool, smooth and silent. I attached a video that 95% of it was shot with the 55mm. You'd see some scenes with the cool AF. If you are looking for a very Sharp, AF 50mm with featuring the Zeiss 3D look, this is your choice. I'm doing this review so you don't waste more time in confusion like I did.
Date published: 2016-06-12
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Robert from
Incredible performance in a small package
I purchased this lens from B&H in February 2016 and have never looked back. It's frequently used in my portrait and event projects and consistently renders amazing results that clients love. DXOMARK shares my assessment, giving it the excellent score of 48, three more points than the more recently released FE 50mm f/1.4. Subject isolation and resolution are superb with the FE 55 at f/1.8 wide open with that signature Zeiss color contrast. The auto focus is very responsive in all lighting conditions. All this in a package that compliments the compact a7 format and is less than half the size and weight of the FE 50 1.4 alternative. I highly recommend this amazing optic!
Date published: 2017-05-09
Rated 5 out of
5
by
stillsandvideo from
Sony a7rii with 55mm f/1.8 ZA For Studio Session
I recently completed a studio session for Erin Brady (2013's Miss USA) and her husband Tony Capasso who are both starring in the ABC reality show Startup U. During the session, I switched over from a medium format camera to a Sony a7rii mounted with a 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss T* and the Sony 55mm 1.8 lens (all purchased from B&H). The 55mm lens was superb with fast focusing, extreme sharpness and the color rendition that was very good. Really happy with it and consider it a must have if you have a full frame Sony E mount camera. Would strongly recommend purchasing it. @
Date published: 2015-10-04
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Khai Lieng from
Best Lens: Sharp, beautiful bokeh
If I can give it more than 5 stars, I would do so. I am more happy with this lens on my A7 than the 85mmF1.4G on Nikon D800 for both portrait, and general shooting. The Sigma 70mm is also pretty good for portrait, but not close to this baby (may be 70%) on A7. The FE55mmF1.8 is fast auto focus, produces nice contrast, SHARPness for protrait, and beautiful bokeh. This lens made me fall in love with Zeiss color. It has more than I can describe. I start looking into more Zeiss lenses after owning this one. Zeiss is a special taste compared to NikCanon. If you are not happy with any lens you've owned before, now you are lucky because you has chance to know this lens. Do yourself a favor to get this lens now and thank me for telling you this:-)
Date published: 2015-01-30
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Nick from
Fantastically sharp! Amazing lens!
Can't say great enough things about this Sony Zeiss lens. Just to add to the other reviews here. It's a tack sharp lens. Amazing in low light. Prior to purchasing this lens from B&H, I rented it along with the Sony 50mm f/1.4 because I wasn't sure which one would suite my needs better. I ended up buying the 55mm because I found it to be (1) just as sharp (2) much cheaper (under $1K), and (3) much lighter to use! Using it with a Sony A7sii, the 55mm f/1.8 stop gives me all the brightness I need in low light.
Date published: 2016-10-28
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Perspectives from
Worth it!
Great lens! A perfect combo with an a7Rii. So dependable, with fast focus, great color and sharpness, and well-balanced on the camera. I don't think of what I have to overcome in order to get a great image with this lens so am able to just shoot and concentrate on the composition, lighting and timing instead. The limited distortion and vignetting are very well corrected with a lens profile in post. Chromatic aberration has only shown up in extreme situations and then it's still minor and correctable. It's not as small as some other lenses with a similar focal length, but I think it makes up for it in quality (admittedly, I only say this based on what I've read, not having tried these other options, yet). I love it!
Date published: 2016-04-14
question
Will this work on a7r or rII?
Yes any lens with an E mount will work on the a7 series cameras. The FE in the name of the lens signifies it as an e -mount for a F ull frame sensor cameras, like the a7 series. The crop sensor lenses (lenses with just E not FE in the name), will also work pn the a7 cameras but will be cropped and have a vignette/shadow on the pictures due to the bigger sensor on the a7 series cameras.
Date published: 2018-08-25
question
Is there a way to set the focus distance from meters to feet on this lens? I am using it on the the AR7II. I cannot find a menu setting to change that anywhere. I know on the Batis lenses one can turn the focussing ring but that does not work on this lens. I am trying to figure out hyperfocal distances and I do have an app but I find it difficult to keep switching back to meter distances.
Unfortunately, it does not appear that this is a possible function using this lens.
Date published: 2018-08-25
question
Why no OSS on this lens?
Note IBIS (in body stabilization) is only available on the most recent/newer (Mark 2) A7 cameras like the A7R2, A7ii, and A7S2 which are at least 2000-3500 in cost. The first gen A7 cameras dont have IBIS. Usually you only need OSS when using a long/telephoto lens of 70mm or greater due to the increase in shake when zoomed in farther. Wide and normal lenses from 10 to 55 mm usually dont need extra stabilization as long as your shutter speed is above 1/125 sec or higher
Date published: 2018-08-25
question
Is this Lens compatible with the Sony FS700?
Yes, and it will work fabulously. I use it on my a7s as well, gives wonderful images w/o having to pay a lot of $ for Cinema lenses
Date published: 2018-08-25
question
Is this lens compatible with the Sony a6000?
Please note tat when used on the a6000 it will be a 82.5mm lens due to the 1.5x crop factor of the crop sensor a6000, which would be very good for portraits/headshots.
Date published: 2018-08-25
question
can the zeiss 35 f2.8 hood fit this lens?
Yes, the Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 lens hood will fit the Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA, as they both have a 49mm thread.
Date published: 2018-08-25
question
Which country is this lens manufactured in?
According to Ken Rockwell's review this lens is manufactured in Thailand.
Date published: 2018-08-25
is the lens sealed against rain for example?
is the lens sealed against rain for example?
Hi there, This lens has Dust and Moisture-Resistant Construction but NOT rain-resistance. Regards, Jen
Date published: 2018-12-26
Be the first to review this item
Customer Photos
Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Q&A
Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Accessories
Designed For Use With:
- Sony Alpha A5000
- Sony Alpha A5100
- Sony Alpha A6000
- Sony Alpha A6300
- Sony Alpha A6400
- Sony Alpha A6500
- Sony Alpha A7
- Sony Alpha A7 II
- Sony Alpha A7 III
- Sony Alpha A7R
- Sony Alpha A7R II
- Sony a7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera
- Sony Alpha A7R III
- Sony Alpha A7S
- Sony Alpha A7S II
- Sony Alpha A9
- Sony NEX-EA50M E-Mount
- Sony NEX-EA50UH E-Mount
- Sony NEX-FS700R E-Mount
- Sony NEX-VG30 E-Mount
- Sony NEX-VG900 E-Mount
- Sony NEX-VG900
- Sony NEX-VG900E
- Sony PXW-FS5 E-Mount
- Sony PXW-FS5M2 E-Mount
- Sony PXW-FS7 E-Mount
- Sony PXW-FS7M2 E-Mount
- Thom Alpha A6300
See any errors on this page?
Let us know.
